Overheard: Kenny Vaccaro on fulfilling his NFL dream, draft experts sound off on former Texas Longhorn

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Here's what Kenny Vaccaro said Thursday night after the Saints took him at No. 15 overall:

"This was such a great night, and I'm so excited to be a Saint. New Orleans is a great franchise with passionate fans like Texas, and it's still close to my family. This is just the beginning. Now I have to keep working hard and get to New Orleans and make an impact. It's an honor to be picked and join all the great DBs from DBU in the NFL. I can't thank Coach [Mack] Brown, Coach [Duane] Akina and everyone at Texas [enough] for helping me so much along the way. They prepared me for this opportunity.

I have been grinding my whole life, literally since I was four years old for this opportunity, and it is finally here. [Former Longhorn S] Earl Thomas told me to come in, have a chip on my shoulder and put an impact on this league. [He said], 'Don't just sit around and wait for someone else to take your job.' I am excited. The Saints were my last visit, and I had a good feeling about it. I am ready to do whatever the Saints want me to do.

It was awesome having my family here with me. I got chills when I looked at my mom after my name was called. We've been through so much, and she's been there for me all the way. It was special to share the moment with her and my family. Having Coach Akina there, also, was extra special. He's coached so many great DBs and for him to be here on this day to support me and my family meant a lot to me."

And here's what several experts think about Vaccaro:

ESPN analyst John Gruden: He doesn't play like a conventional safety. He plays like a nickel corner in the slot, and he does have coverage ability. The New Orleans Saints gave up 7,000 yards because they gave up a lot of big plays. They need another safety that can play on every down. He can cover slot receivers, and he can come down in the box and tackle. He can come down and fill the alley. I do think he has a physical presence. He was a great special teams player early in his career at Texas.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.: Mack Brown loves this kid. The comparisons are out there to [Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro] Troy Polamalu because he is a striker, he is an intimidator and he is a gifted athlete. They ended up with an impact safety in Kenny Vaccaro.

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock: You finally have a safety that can play with [New Orleans Saints S] Malcolm Jenkins, as far as an athlete. This is a young man that this year at Texas, dropped down over the slot and covered slots man-to-man. I went back to his tape a year ago because I wanted to see him come off the hatch and play deep stuff, and he is very good at that. He fits perfectly what they do.